Demorreaia Henry to go to juvenile facility for killing of Timothy Cooke

FLINT, Michigan -- A teen who as a 14-year-old murdered a man sitting in his car at Howard Estates in 2007, pleaded guilty to reduced charges Friday.

Demorreaia D. Henry was charged an adult with first-degree murder as well as other charges including carrying a concealed weapon. Now, 16, he accepted a plea agreement on Friday for second-degree murder and the additional charges were dropped.

Jennifer McKeller, of the Genesee County prosecutor's office, said the plea deal was acceptable in part because of Henry's age.

"He was definitely 14 at the time," McKeller said. "Second degree is very serious."

Timothy A. Cooke, 26, was on his cell phone in his car at Howard Estates near Lapeer Road when Demorreaia and at least one other teen approached him allegedly planning to rob him.

Cooke attempted to knock away the handgun when Demorreaia fired four shots at him.

Demorreaia's family listened intently on Friday as he recounted the events of January 18, 2007, to the judge prior to his plea.

He described dropping out of school in the seventh grade and believing that because he carried a gun he was tough.

"I jumped back when he tried to reach for the gun and that's when I pulled it," Demorreaia said. "I didn't really know what I was doing when I pulled the trigger. I blacked out."

Under the agreement, Demorreaia will return to a juvenile facility until he is 19, when he will re-appear in court. He then could be sent back to juvenile facility, sent to prison or released.

Demorreaia's family watched him with tears coming down their faces and a couple were given permission to hug him after the hearing.

"I just wanted my son in the juvenile system and not the adult system," said Royanne Henry, Demorreaia's mother. "It was between our family and attorney what was best for him. He'll do well in juvenile and come back home."

Sentencing is Aug. 5.

A second teen was charged as a juvenile previously was sentenced to a youth treatment facility in Iowa.